I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 126 and 251 together.
The allocation for 2005 provides for an increase of €70 million in Government spending on official development assistance this year. This will bring total Government aid to the developing world to approximately €545 million in 2005, the highest allocation in the 30 year history of the aid programme. In addition, the Government has agreed to provide further increases of €65 million in each of the years 2006 and 2007. These substantial increases mean that over the three years from 2005 to 2007, €1.8 billion will be spent by Ireland on development assistance. Ireland will maintain its position as one of the world's leading aid donors on a per capita basis. We are currently in eighth place among OECD member states and our performance is well above the EU average.
I welcome these increases. The three year multi-annual commitment, incorporating substantial annual increases, gives my Department a sound basis to carry forward the long-term planning which is so important for development work. While there may be some merit in enshrining such commitments in legislation, this would create a precedent which could be invoked for many areas of Government expenditure. As Deputies will appreciate, the Government requires flexibility to manage the economy.
The Government remains strongly committed to achieving the UN target for expenditure on ODA. The issue of how best to meet the target, and in what timeframe, is under ongoing review. Development Co-operation Ireland recently launched a consultative process that will lead to a White Paper on development assistance. All interested members of the public are invited to submit views.